largest organ in scandinavia with 3D printed 260-meter pipes plays in helsinki music center

the largest 3D printed organ in scandinavia

On January 1st, 2024, the Helsinki Music Center welcomed the new year with a striking organ with 3D printed sounding pipes and wind lines extending a remarkable 260 meters. Standing as the largest organ in Finland and Scandinavia, the musical instrument boasts 124 sound registers distributed across various sets of gleaming pipes with organic tree branch-like forms. The structure, crafted by Austrian company Rieger Orgelbau, is meticulously fashioned from the innovative Finnish wood-based UPM Formi 3D biocomposite, which is described as efficient, sustainable, and acoustically functional.

the new organ at the Helsinki Music Center | all images courtesy of Helsinki Music Centre Foundation, Sakari Röyskö

the construction journey of Helsinki Music Center’s new organ

This new instrument holds the distinction of being the largest modern organ ever placed in a concert hall worldwide. The sculpture in front of the organ case boasts interwoven pipes and wind tunnels, adding a striking visual element to the interior. The distinctive design of the facade pipes demanded the identification of a suitable material and a reliable, flexible, and cost-effective manufacturing method. Leveraging the biocomposite’s fine cellulose fibers, large-scale 3D printing became possible, with minimal shrinkage, rapid cooling, and self-sustaining properties ensuring the efficient production of intricate elements.

The new organ at Helsinki Music Center (find more here) is a result of international collaboration. The biocomposite material, produced by UPM (find more here) in Finland, embarked on a journey to Burgos, Spain, for the intricate process of 3D printing. The printed pipes then made their way to the skilled hands of the organ builders in Austria. The organ is initially handcrafted by Rieger Orgelbau (find more here), disassembled, shipped in parts to Helsinki, and then reconstructed in the Music Center’s concert hall.

the new instrument is the largest modern organ ever placed in a concert hall worldwide

‘The organ sounds magnificent. It’s wonderful to open the concert hall to the public and enjoy both the music and the visual experience that our new organ and performers will provide starting from January,’ says Kaisa Näreranta, Executive Director of the Helsinki Music Center Foundation and Project Manager of the Organ project.

The new Rieger organ was inaugurated on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024. The opening concert featured Olivier Latry, who was involved in the design process of the instrument.

the sculpture in front of the organ case boasts sounding pipes and wind tunnels with organic interwoven forms